New York — The bipartisan No Labels group announced Thursday that it will not run a presidential candidate in November after failing to find a high-profile centrist prepared to capitalize on popular anger with President Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
No Labels has always said we would only offer our ballot line to a ticket if we could identify candidates with a credible path to winning the White House,” CEO Nancy Jacobson told allies. We should stand down because no such candidates emerged.”
The unexpected announcement solidifies the general election showdown between unpopular major party candidates Biden and Trump, leaving anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the only major outsider. Kennedy believes he has enough signatures for five states' fall ballots.
The decision, made days after founding chairman Joe Lieberman's death, concludes months of deliberations in which No Labels gathered tens of millions of dollars from a secret donor list. Democrats were relieved because they worried a No Labels ticket would split Biden's support and aid Trump, the expected Republican nominee.
“Millions of Americans are relieved that No Labels finally decided to do the right thing to keep Donald Trump out of the White House,” said No Labels critic Rahna Epting, MoveOn executive director. Now is the time for Robert Kennedy Jr. to realize that no third party can win the presidency. We must unite to fight Donald Trump, the biggest threat to democracy and the nation.”
Millions of Americans are relieved that No Labels finally decided to do the right thing to keep Donald Trump out of the White House,” said No Labels critic Rahna Epting, MoveOn executive director. Now is the time for Robert Kennedy Jr. to realize that no third party can win the presidency. We must unite to fight Donald Trump, the biggest threat to democracy and the nation.” Kennedy spokesman Stefanie Spear called No Labels' struggles “testimony to the stranglehold of the corrupt two-party duopoly on American democracy.”
Kennedy said earlier in the day that he had enough signatures in five states, including swing states Nevada and North Carolina, to qualify for the general election. American Values 2024, his super PAC, says it has collected signatures for Kennedy in Arizona and Georgia, battlegrounds. Democrats are disputing the group's signatures, which cannot legally cooperate with Kennedy.
After qualifying on the ballot in 21 states, No Labels failed to persuade a top-tier moderate from either party to support their initiative. In March, No Labels delegates decisively approved a bipartisan presidential and vice presidential ticket. However, several Democratic and Republican candidates had openly and privately rejected No Labels.
After suspending her GOP presidential candidacy last month, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley indicated she would not run on the No Labels ticket. Former Gov. Larry Hogan, R-Md., ran for the Senate after Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., declined.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican presidential candidate in 2024, indicated he wouldn't run under No Label last month. A "unity ticket" featuring a presidential candidate from one major party and a vice presidential candidate from the other was considered to appeal to those upset with Biden and Trump.
We are deeply relieved that everyone rejected their offer, forcing them to stand down,” said Third Way's Matt Bennett, which opposed No Labels' 2024 plans. The center's singularly destructive campaign on President Biden and Democrats has finished, but third-party spoilers persist.
Biden allies believed No Labels would steal votes from the president in battleground areas and criticized the group's refusal to identify its sources or decision-making. No Labels never named all of its delegates and held most meetings in secret.
The 33-year-old Philadelphia salesman who would have been a No Labels convention delegate said the choice was regrettable but prudent. He trusts No Labels' leadership to decide. “I understand why they made the decision, and I think it’s the right thing to do in this moment,” DuPraw added. I'm disappointed Trump and Biden are back. I feel terrible for our nation.” DuPraw said he'll choose Biden or Kennedy.He stated, “I’m excited that there are other options than the two main parties.”
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